Bob Vylan launched a defamation lawsuit in Dublin on Monday, focusing on Irish broadcaster RTE over its protection of the duo’s Glastonbury Pageant efficiency, which the community framed as antisemitic quite than pro-Palestinian.
The London-based punk-rap group — made up of vocalist Pascal Robinson-Foster and drummer Wade Laurence George- filed the Excessive Courtroom motion by Phoenix Regulation Solicitors, arguing RTE misrepresented politically charged chants made throughout their June set.
On the heart of the dispute are Robinson-Foster’s onstage calls of “Demise, demise, to the IDF” and “Free, free, Palestine.”
“These allegations are categorically denied by our shoppers and are completely unfaithful,” Phoenix Regulation mentioned in an announcement. The agency added that the group’s remarks had been “expressing help for Palestinian self-determination and criticizing army actions by the Israel Defence Forces.”
The efficiency occurred amid escalating violence in Gaza, the place tens of hundreds of Palestinians had been being killed, in response to native well being officers. The BBC, which aired the set stay, later apologized and eliminated the footage. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the efficiency as “appalling hate speech.”
The fallout was swift.
Robinson-Foster was questioned by regulation enforcement within the UK final month however has not been charged.
In response to the backlash, Robinson-Foster clarified the intent behind the chants. “We aren’t for the demise of Jews, Arabs or every other race or group of individuals,” he mentioned. “The feedback made had been politically charged however not antisemitic in nature.”
Phoenix Regulation solicitor Darragh Mackin emphasised the authorized distinction between political critique and hate speech.
“Our shoppers are not any stranger to using their freedom of expression to talk out in opposition to the genocide in Gaza,” Mackin mentioned. “There’s nevertheless, a elementary distinction between talking critically concerning the position of the Israeli state forces, and being antisemitic.”
The lawsuit arrives amid rising scrutiny over how criticism of Israel is portrayed in Western media. Since October 7, 2023, accusations of antisemitism have more and more been used to discredit these condemning Israeli army operations in Gaza.
Greater than 70,000 Palestinians have died within the battle, in response to well being officers within the area. The authorized group mentioned it requested a public apology and retraction from RTE, however acquired no reply. The swimsuit seeks compensation for “vital reputational and emotional injury suffered by our shoppers.”
Throughout an October podcast, Robinson-Foster mentioned the backlash was minor in comparison with the struggling in Gaza.
“The criticism we’ve acquired is minimal in comparison with what folks in Palestine are going by,” he mentioned.
The group carried out at Dublin’s Vicar Road in November, persevering with to make use of their platform to spotlight Palestinian points. RTE declined to touch upon the lawsuit. The case may affect how media organizations cowl politically charged performances throughout instances of struggle.
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